ADDENDA. 



THE following from the Indian Economist, regarding 

 Indian Teas in general and Neilgherry Teas in particular, is 

 not out of place here. At the same time I do not agree with 

 the writer, for I believe that in the strength and pungency of 

 Indian Teas consists their value : 



INDIAN TEA. 



' That the Teas of India have at length come to be fully appre- 

 ciated in England may be taken, we presume, as an admitted fact ; 

 and it is of importance that planters should direct their attention to 

 modifying their methods of manufacture so as to suit the public 

 taste, and, if possible, turn out an article free from the objections 

 still advanced against the Indian leaf as a daily beverage. There 

 are, we know, those who argue that enough has been done, and that 

 consumers will acquire a taste for the produce of our gardens in time ; 

 but we have daily evidence that in the most trivial matters there is 

 no greater tyrant than the public. It behoves those then who cater 

 for this tyrant to consult its taste and satisfy its demands, however 

 exacting and capricious they may be. The remarks we are about to 

 make are based on experiments and enquiries extending over some 

 years in this country and in England, and we leave those engaged in 

 the enterprise to estimate their value. All Teas grown in the plains 

 of India are known to the trade in London under the general name 

 of Assam, and are chiefly used for mixing, seldom reaching the con- 

 sumer in a pure state. When they do, the objections raised are that 

 the leaf is too pungent and rough for most palates ; and purchasers 

 are in the habit of mixing it with Chinese to tone down those astringent 

 qualities. In other words, it wants the delicacy of flavour which is 



